Means for supporting a pipe string in a well while adding to and removing pipe from the string



A. A. ASHTON 3,188,029

June 8,1965

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A PIPE STRING IN A WELL WHILEv ADDING TO ANDREMOVING PIPE FROM THE STRING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 15, 1961A/berf 4. AJ/HW? ATTOIPIVEVJ June 8, 1965 ASHTON 3,188,029

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A PIPE STRING IN A WELL WHILE" ADDING TO ANDREMOVING PIPE FROM THE STRING Filed Nov. 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2A/berf /4. AJ/? fan INV%TOR. A %/a 5 W MEANS FOR SUIPGRTING A PIPESTRING IN A WELL WHILE ADDHQG TO AND REMDVING PIPE FROM THE ST G AlbertA. Ashton, Dallas, 'Iex., assignor to The Youngstown Sheet and TubeCompany, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio i Filed Nov. 15, 1961,Ser. No. 152,606 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-60) This invention relates to pipesupports, and more particularly to apparatus for supporting pipe in theWell while pipe sections are being added to or removed from the string.

During running or pulling of pipe, such as drill string in wells, it iscustomary to use slips. At the moment 'when the pipe is at the desiredelevation, slips are positioned about the pipe and the pipe loweredslightly to rest on the slips. With the pipe supported on the slips, anew section of pipe may be added to the string or a section of pipe maybe removed from the string.

It is not infrequent that the weight of the string is rather suddenlyimposed on the slip assembly and the entire turntable assembly subjectedto considerable stress. When the string weight is suddenly imposed onthe conventional assembly, this results in the slips biting into thepipe deeper than necessary. Handling of the string in this mannerprogressively deteriorates .the pipe until it is notfit for use in deepwells, or in some cases unfit for use at all. f j

In drill'strings used for very deep wells even slight die marks fromslips begin to become objectionable due to the tremendous stressesimposed on the pipe, as failure of the pipe is induced by these diemarks.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for suspending ofpipe in the Well in which the shock of the Weight of the string beingplaced on the supporting apparatus is greatly reduced by permitting thepipe-supporting structure to give as the weight of the pipe istransferred and gradually deaccelerate the downward movement of thepipe.

Another object is to provide apparatus for supporting pipe in the wellin which the pipe support means does not employ slips of any type anddoes not mark the pipe in any way. 7

Another object is to provide an apparatus which combines the twopreviously stated objectives to support pipe in the well Without markingthe pipe and to gradually deaccelerate downward movement of a pipe whenthe .weight of the pipe string is transferred to the apparatus.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for supporting a pipe stringin a well without marking the pipe in any manner in which the apparatusis formed in hinged sections and can be readily wrapped around a pipeand to the rotary table in which the pipe-supporting apparatus issectioned to permit it to be wrapped around a pipe and supported in themaster bushing receptacle of a rotary table. 1 r

Other objects, features. and advantages of this-invention will beapparent from the drawings, the specification and the claim.

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts,and wherein illustrative embodiments of. this invention are shown:

3,l88,@2 Patented June 8, 1965 FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of arotary table having a pipe-supporting apparatus constructed inaccordance with this invention supported on the rotary table andextending into the master bushing receptacle of the rotary table;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the pipe-supporting apparatus with thetop dust covers removed, being partly in section and partly inelevation, and illustrating the construction on the top pedestal of theapparatus;

FIGURE 3 is a view along the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and,

FIGURE 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of amodified form of this invention.

Therotary table indicated generally at 10 may be of any desired form,and in use would be in place on the derrick floor. The pipe supportapparatus of this invention is preferably supported on the rotary tableby removing the master bushing from the master bushing receptacle 11. Itis preferred to support the apparatus in the master bushing receptacle,as this gives stability to the apparatus and prevents rotation of theapparatus while making up and breaking out pipe.

The pipe support apparatus of this invention indicated generally at 12includes a pedestal base 13 and a pedestal top 14. While the pedestalbase and top might each be fabricated from a single piece of material,it is preferred that the pedestal base and top be split vertically intosections and the sections hinged together with the hinge structure shownin FIGURE 1 at 15, 16 and 17. The hinged pedestal and base are latchedtogether by suitable latch means such as bolts and nuts 18, 19 and 20.This facilitates wrapping of the pipe support apparatus about a pipe inthe rotary table and lowering of the apparatus into the rotary tablewhile the pipe is in place.

The pedestal base 13 has a depending square-sided skirt 21 whichregisterswith the master bushing receptacle 11 i of the rotary table.

The pedestal base has a central 'bore 22 extending verticallytherethrough.

The pedestal topf14 has a central bore 23 extending therethrough inregister with the bore 22 of the pedestal base.

Means are provided for preventing relative rotation between the pedestaltop and base by providing the lower section ofthe pedestal top with anouter diameter which will fit within the counterbore 24 which forms aportion of the bore 22 through the pedestal base. A spline 25 in thecounterbore 24 cooperates with a slot 26 indicated in dashed lines inthe outer periphery of the lower section of the pedestal top. Thisconstruction permits movev ment of the pedestal top vertically relativeto the pedestal base while preventing, relative rotation therebetween.

A stop is provided for limiting downward movement of the pedestal toprelative to the pedestal base by the lower end 27 of the pedestal topengaging the shoulder 28 between the bore 22 and counterbore 24.

A plurality of spline systems 25 and 26 are preferably employed andwould provide a dovetail action preventing disassembly of the pedestalbase and top when they are swung about hinges 15, 16 and 17 to an openposition. To assist the dovetails in this objective and to prevent thepossibility of galling in the dovetail system, guide pins, one of whichis shown at 29, are carried by the lower extremity of the pedestal topand extend through slot 31 in the pedestal base. The head of guide pin29 cooperates with the pedestal base on'either side of slot 31 to holdthe pedestal top sections in place.

Disassembly of the pedestal base and top by upward movement of thepedestal top is prevented both by the guide pins 29 and by a split ring32 fastened to the upper U end of the pedestal base. Ring 32. overliesthe spline section of thep'edestal top to limit upward movement thereof.

The pedestal top is provided with means for support- P P thereOn- In thep eiet ed mb diment the pedestal? top. has a plurality f am sem i for sp -p Asthetwo halv s 3 and eth p des a en are b t al y ident cal; only.one ill. e etpla ttlh h detail. Pedestal top 14 is provided initsupperextrernity with a ram cavity 34 which opens to the bore 23 inthe cent r otthe pedestal-Wm re ln .51 s l d hlyhtqhh e in the ra av tys. r meye a ht etw h a e c e position n. hich o e c ea d n teh ltt eetien n. which em ove l e b r 23am p v de e support for pipe. Theconfronting sides of the rams are provided with semi-circular openings36 which are sized to snugly receive the drill pipe with which they areused. As the tool joints are larger in diameter than he p pe th uppeutfeee 37 of er he t r a shoulder on which pipe may rest. Preferably thepipe is provided, with tool joints having double upsets 38 and 32thereion so that the shoulder 41 between the double upsets will providepurchase for the elevators to be attached to the string for raising andlowering the pipe string. i

Means are provided for reciprocating the rams 35 between their extendedandretracted positions. Preferably this means is provided by a cylinder42 in the rear face ofthe ra n which cooperates with'a piston 43mountedin the side wall of the pedestal top 14. A suitable sealbetweenthe piston and cylinder, such as O-ring'44, permits the fiuid under pressure to be introduced into'the'cylinder 421 through line 45, tomove the ram' to; its extended position. Suitable fluid under pressuremay be supplied by ump 6' reser o 4 h ee-W y v lve 8 ele tively connectsthe'cylinder 42}. with the reservoir 47 and with purn p le. t

p ton n cy i der a s co perate t rre eh 99king of the'ram under thevveight' of the pipe string;

As a pas 1 h m a s. for eipteeatih h a s, resilient means are' provided,such as springs 42 and 50, in ompr s i n be ee th ams ahd hsihldets and521m the top' pedestal. When the valve (this turned to th Posit how nFIG RE he n ihss 4.9 @6 me ts t e nil retr a e p s ti n a s Qn s he W hof the string is removed. i

S ta mud and uet ar l 1 ar s ur d eve the m hamhers o, r es hem r m Q aihet m.

n. o e o retu n th pedes en o s hat p ti n wh n. n pe' enet hrsert theron nd t er the shock of pipe being transferredfrorn'the elevators to thetop pedestal," a combinationreturn spring and shock absorber is providedat a plurality of spaced points about the apphratu' s. Reference isrnade to FIGURE 3' in which one. of the combihationr eturn springs andshock absorbers is shown. The shock absorber'includes a telescopinghousing made up ofouter tubular member 54 and inner tubular member 55.The outer tubular member 54 is closed at its lowerendby a cap 56 whichis securedto the lower pedestal by the bolt 57 and nut 58. The bolt 57extends through the cap 56 and a seal 'therebetween is provided by O-ring 59. The bolt 57 has an enlarged section 57a'within cylinder 54 toprovide a shoulder which bears against the cap 59' to permit the runningup of nut 58 to 'a tight position to hold the shock absorber in place.The upper end of bolt 57 is frusto-conical in shape as shown at 61, andcooperates with a passageway 62 provided inan inwardly extendingflange'63 carried at the lower extremity of the telescoping member 55.

S ab s al mean c as the quble sea 674, et een h tel s pin m mber 4: a dSis e eats n ee eo fluid therebetween. The two telescoping members 54and 55 are filled almost to the top with a suitable hydraulic fluid 65.A slight air space 66 is left in the top of telescoping member 55 belowthe end closure 67. The end. closhown at 7-7 is above the surface 76.

lsure 67 is closed by a plug 68 to permit replenishing of the fluid inthe shock absorber. Access to plug 68 is had by removing plug 69 in thefloor of ram chamber 34.

The upper pedestal is provided with a circular flange 71 which surroundsthe upper end of the shock absorber and the shock absorber bears,against the pedestal top in h ar a fined y a g I A suitable dustguarjdfisprovided by a bellows 72 extendingbetween the circular gan s.Tifand the outer telescoping member 54. v

The return spring is provided by a pair of. springs 73 and 74 whichsurround bolt 57. andbea r against the lower closure 56 and'thein-turndfiang'e 63 oftelescoping parts 54 and 55, respectively.

In xpl inin he operation f h device, t l be assumed that it is.desired'to begin a round-trip with a dhll tr n es d in of a lhe te ly iswith.- drawn from the well and the master bushing removed from therotary. table. The pipe support assembly ofthis invention is thenwrapped about the pipe and its sections secured together with latchmeans 18, 19. and 20 with the apparatus supported in' the upper" end of'the rnaster bushing receptacle of the rotary table 10. l l 7 Valve 48'is turned to deliver fluid. from reservoir 47 through. pump 46 to the:passageway in piston- 43. This fluid fills cylinder '42 and forces therams 35 out into engagement'with thepipe string. The'pipe string isthefilow'ered until the tool joint above theapparatus come intoengagementwith and rests'upon the upper supportsurface 3.710f therams35s The dra'wworlts brakes are then released to'transfer the load on.the travelingblock to the apparatus of this invention. While it isdesired that the weight of the pipe'be graduallytransferredQpOOrjudgment may'sometin'ies result in the transfer beingmade rather rapidly, but no damage will result to the pipe or to theapparatus as the shb'clc'willbe absorbed by the shock absorbing means.

"As the weight is." transferred to the pedestal top the pedestal topmoves down and begins to telescope the te 'tesins Parts 54 nd 55. of t eshq k a sot A this action occurs, the frusto-conicaljend 610i the bolt57. be s to mevef rth r i to th hq 6 in he et m h up te e eepins' iembr- As tdee so, it restricts the flow or fluid through the hole 62 andthus gradually de'accelerates the downwardly moving pedte t p to h ab orhe h je mpb edfq th sembl wh n ranste t hsr pe r m t le a o o he P e tattip- After the kelly is broken out and laid down, the levat en a eehehhie 1, o t e Q it h eh e et in roihsh he-as em h d stance of no h rlength of pipe. As theweight is now removed from the pedestal top, thesprings 73 and 74 car'1 return the pedestal t p eedp e 'i h wa r m. h Pee a b qm h re etidn or a a mana in e p of Course, beforethe pipe israise'djthe valve '48 willbe turned to the, position shown FIGURE 3' topermit springs 49 and 50 to move the rams to retractd position so thatthey willnot interfere with the raising of the pipe. "'An' alternate'form "or this invention is sh'own in EIGURE 4. The apparatus of FIGURE4 is identical with the apparatus or FIGURES 1; 2' and 3 exceptthat therains SShayebe'en omitted and the pedestalto'p is provided with fixedsurface 76 for supporting'pipe. In this form of the invention an extraset of'elevators is employed. These elevators may be of any'de siredconstruction. In the use 'ofthe apparatus shown in FIG- URE 4, thestring is raised until-a tool' joint such as The'elevators indicatedgenerally at 73 are then wrapped about the pipe and latched together.The string is then lowered until the shoulder 79 55 the tool'jointengages the comple- ,men tary shoulder 81 in the upper end of thelevators.

As the lower surface 82 of the elevators is resting upon the pipesupport surface 76 of the pedestal top 14a, the

weight of the pipe is transferred through the elevators to the top ofthe pedestal top. The shock absorber system absorbs any shock of thistransfer and permits the pedestal top to slowly travel downwardly untilthe lower end 27 of the pedestal top rests upon the stop at the pedestalbase provided by shoulder 28. At this time the string of pipe above tooljoint 77 is broken out and laid down. The elevators with Which theremoved section of pipe was handled are then released and the travelingblock attached to the elevators 78 and the pipe in the well again raisedand the operation repeated.

From the above it will be seen that the objects of this invention havebeen attained. A system has been provided which will greatly minimizeshock to pipe being transferred from the elevators to the rotary table.The system includes a way of supporting pipe which dispenses with thenecessity for slips Which damage pipe. Of course, slips could beemployed in the conventional manner with the shock absorber system bymounting the slips in the pedestal top, but it is preferred to avoid theuse of slips by using the rams 35 or the elevator system of support ofFIGURE 4 to completely protect the pipe. It is pointed out that thissystem will be of great advantage with very deep wells where stress onthe pipe and the rotary table are very high.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention isillustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size,shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction, may be made within the scope of the appended claim Withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

Apparatus for drilling rigs comprising, a pedestal base having a centralvertical passageway therethrough, a pedestal top having a centralvertical passageway therethrough in register with the pedestal basepassageway,

said pedestal base and top split vertically into sections, meansincluding splines securing said base and top together in telescopingrelation, hinge means between said sections, latch means to fasten saidhinged sections together in tubular form, a pair of rams carried by thepedestal top on opposite sides of said pedestal top passageway andhaving upwardly facing supporting surfaces, means for reciprocating saidrams between retracted positions in which they permit free passage ofpipe therebetween and extended positions in which they provide a supportfor the tool joints of drill pipe in said passageway to provide forsuspension of drill pipe therein, resilient means urging the pedestaltop upward and away from the pedestal base to a pipe-receiving position,shock absorbing means retarding downward movement of the pedestal topwhen a string of pipe is suspended therefrom, and cooperating stop meanson the pedestal base and pedestal top limiting downward movement of thepedestal top.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,027,734 1/36Johnson 28529 2,170,057 8/39 Kerr 166--85 2,228,770 1/41 LeTourneau287-53 2,242,739 5/41 Anderson 74-841 2,351,887 6/44 Steadman 24-2635 X2,570,080 10/51 Stone 173-164 2,700,201 1/55 Banister 24-263 2,969,8451/61 Hester 24-263 2,976,930 3/61 Marquis et al 166--85 CLAUDE A. LEROY, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, FRANK L. ABBOTT,

Examiners.

